Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding image signal

ABSTRACT

A method for decoding an image signal according to the present invention may comprise the steps of: determining whether there is a brightness change between a current image including a current block and a reference image of the current image; if it is determined that there is a brightness change between the current image and the reference image, determining weight prediction parameter candidates for the current block; determining a weight prediction parameter for the current block on the basis of index information which specifies any one of the weight prediction parameter candidates; and performing a prediction on the current block on the basis of the weight prediction parameter.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Stage Application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/KR2017/004574, filed on Apr. 28, 2017, which claimsthe benefit under 35 USC 119(a) and 365(b) of Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2016-0052699, filed on Apr. 29, 2016, Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2016-0052702, filed on Apr. 29, 2016, Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2017-0050051, filed on Apr. 18, 2017, Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2017-0050052, filed on Apr. 18, 2017 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a video signal encoding/decoding methodand apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, demand for multimedia data such as moving pictures israpidly increasing on the Internet. However, the rate at which thebandwidth of a channel develops is hard to follow the amount ofmultimedia data that is rapidly increasing. As a result, Video CodingExpert Group (VCEG) of the International Organization forStandardization (ITU-T) and MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) ofISO/IEC have issued High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) version 1 inFebruary 2014.

HEVC defines techniques such as intra prediction, inter prediction,transform, quantization, entropy coding, and in-loop filters. Amongthem, the inter prediction is performed by using the previouslyreconstructed pictures and motion information such as a motion vector, areference picture index, a prediction direction (Inter predictionindicator), etc.

The higher the correlation between images, the higher the predictionefficiency may be obtained. However, the inter prediction result may beinaccurate if the correlation between the images is lowered because of achange in brightness between images such as a fade-in or a fade-out. Inorder to solve such a problem, the present invention proposes weightprediction. Here, the weight prediction may mean that, when there is abrightness change between images, the weight is estimated by the degreeof brightness change, and the estimated weight is applied to the interprediction.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

The main object of the present invention is to improve inter predictionefficiency by performing inter prediction using a weight inencoding/decoding an image.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus anda method capable of effectively performing inter prediction byselectively using a weight in encoding/decoding an image even when aplurality of light sources exist in an image or a brightness changeexists only in a local region.

Technical Solution

The method and apparatus for decoding a video signal according to thepresent invention determines whether there is a brightness changebetween a current image including a current block and a reference imageof the current image, determines a weight prediction parameter candidatefor the current block if there is a brightness change between thecurrent image and the reference image, determines a weight predictionparameter for the current block based on index information forspecifying any one of the weight prediction parameter candidate, andperforms prediction of the current block based on the weight predictionparameter.

In the method and apparatus for decoding a video signal according to thepresent invention, the weight prediction parameter candidate may includea first weight prediction parameter for the reference image.

In the method and apparatus for decoding a video signal according to thepresent invention, when the current image includes at least one regioncapable of deriving a second weight prediction parameter, the weightprediction parameter candidate further includes at least one secondweight prediction parameter.

In the method and apparatus for decoding a video signal according to thepresent invention, the first weight prediction parameter may be derivedbased on a prediction value for the first weight prediction parameterand a residual value for the first weight prediction parameter.

In the method and apparatus for decoding a video signal according to thepresent invention, the prediction value for the first weight predictionparameter may be determined according to the accuracy of the currentblock.

In the method and apparatus for decoding a video signal according to thepresent invention, the maximum number of the weight prediction parametercandidate may be adaptively determined according to a size of thecurrent block.

In the method and apparatus for decoding a video signal according to thepresent invention, the weight prediction parameter candidate may includean initial weight prediction parameter having a predetermined weightvalue.

The method and apparatus for encoding a video signal according to thepresent invention determines whether there is a brightness changebetween a current image including a current block and a reference imageof the current image, determines a weight prediction parameter candidatefor the current block if there is a brightness change between thecurrent image and the reference image, determines a weight predictionparameter for the current block among the weight prediction parametercandidate, encodes index information for specifying the determinedweight prediction parameter, and performs prediction of the currentblock based on the weight prediction parameter.

In the method and apparatus for encoding a video signal according to thepresent invention, the weight prediction parameter candidate may includea first weight prediction parameter for the reference image.

In the method and apparatus for encoding a video signal according to thepresent invention, when the current image includes at least one regioncapable of deriving a second weight prediction parameter, the weightprediction parameter candidate further includes at least one secondweight prediction parameter.

The method and apparatus for decoding a video signal according to thepresent invention encodes a residual value indicating a differencebetween the first weight prediction parameter and a prediction value forthe first weight prediction parameter.

In the method and apparatus for encoding a video signal according to thepresent invention, the prediction value for the first weight predictionparameter may be determined according to the accuracy of the currentblock.

In the method and apparatus for encoding a video signal according to thepresent invention, the maximum number of the weight prediction parametercandidate may be adaptively determined according to a size of thecurrent block.

In the method and apparatus for encoding a video signal according to thepresent invention, the weight prediction parameter candidate may includean initial weight prediction parameter having a predetermined weightvalue.

Advantageous Effects

In the present invention, the inter prediction efficiency is improved byperforming inter prediction using a weight in encoding/decoding animage.

The present invention may effectively perform inter prediction byselectively using a weight in encoding/decoding an image even when aplurality of light sources exist in an image or a brightness changeexists only in a local region.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image encoding apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image decoding apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a motion estimationmethod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating locations of neighboring blocks forobtaining motion information to be applied to a current block to becoded according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a brightness change pattern between acurrent image including a current block and a reference image.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of estimating a weightprediction parameter in the image encoding apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of performing RateDistortion Optimization (RDO) on a prediction block using a weightparameter.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of encoding informationrelated to a weight prediction parameter for a current block.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of decoding a weight predictionparameter in the decoding apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a method of using a weight predictionparameter in an encoding apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing weight prediction parameters of neighboringblocks neighboring the current block.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example in which only some pixelsare used for weight prediction parameter estimation of the currentblock.

FIG. 13 shows an example in which a combined weight prediction parameteris generated.

FIG. 14 shows an example of decoding a weight prediction parameter in adecoding apparatus.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention may be changed and modified variously and beillustrated with reference to different exemplary embodiments, some ofwhich will be described and shown in the drawings. However, theseembodiments are not intended for limiting the invention but areconstrued as including includes all modifications, equivalents andreplacements which belong to the spirit and technical scope of theinvention. Like reference numerals in the drawings refer to likeelements throughout.

Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe variouselements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. Theseterms are used only to distinguish one element from another element. Forexample, a first element could be termed a second element and a secondelement could be termed a first element likewise without departing fromthe teachings of the present invention. The term “and/or” includes anyand all combinations of a plurality of associated listed items.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected to” or “coupled to” another element, the element can bedirectly connected or coupled to another element or interveningelements. On the contrary, when an element is referred to as being“directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element, thereare no intervening elements present.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “include” and/or“have,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like referencenumerals in the drawings refer to like elements throughout, andredundant descriptions of like elements will be omitted herein.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image encoding apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the image encoding apparatus 100 includes an imagedividing unit 110, prediction units 120 and 125, a transform unit 130, aquantization unit 135, a reordering unit 160, an entropy encoding unit165, an inverse quantization unit 140, an inverse transform unit 145, afilter unit 150, and a memory 155.

Each of the elements shown in FIG. 1 is shown independently to representdifferent characteristic functions in the encoding apparatus, and maynot mean that each component consists of separate hardware or a singlesoftware unit. That is, the elements are independently arranged forconvenience of description, wherein at least two elements may becombined into a single element, or a single element may be divided intoa plurality of elements to perform functions. It is to be noted thatembodiments in which some elements are integrated into one combinedelement and/or an element is divided into multiple separate elements areincluded in the scope of the present invention without departing fromthe essence of the present invention.

Some elements are not essential to the substantial functions in theinvention and may be optional constituents for merely improvingperformance. The invention may be embodied by including onlyconstituents essential to embodiment of the invention, except forconstituents used to merely improve performance. The structure includingonly the essential constituents except for the optical constituents usedto merely improve performance belongs to the scope of the invention.

The image dividing unit 110 may divide an input image into at least oneblock. At this time, a block may mean a coding unit (CU), a predictionunit (PU), or a transform unit (TU). The division may be performed basedon at least one of a quad tree or a binary tree. The quad tree is amethod of dividing an upper block into sub-blocks whose width and heightare half of an upper block. The binary tree is a method of dividing anupper block into sub-blocks whose either width or height is half of anupper block. A block may have a non-square shape as well as a squareshape based on the above-described quad tree or binary tree-baseddivision.

In the embodiments of the invention, a CU may be used to refer to notonly a unit of encoding but also a unit of decoding.

The prediction units 120 and 125 may include an inter prediction unit120 to perform inter prediction and an intra prediction unit 125 toperform intra prediction. The prediction units 120 and 125 may determinewhich of inter prediction and intra prediction is performed on a PU, andmay determine specific information (for example, an intra predictionmode, a motion vector, and a reference picture) of the determinedprediction method. Here, a processing unit on which prediction isperformed may be different from a processing unit for which a predictionmethod and specific information thereon are determined. For example, aprediction method and a prediction mode may be determined for each PU,while prediction may be performed for each TU.

A residual value (residual block) between a generated predicted blockand an original block may be input to the transform unit 130. Further,prediction mode information, motion vector information and the like usedfor prediction may be encoded along with the residual value by theentropy encoding unit 165 and be transmitted to the decoding apparatus.When a specific encoding mode is used, the original block may be encodedand transmitted to the decoding apparatus without generating aprediction block by the prediction units 120 and 125.

The inter prediction unit 120 may predict a PU based on information onat least one image among a previous image of a current image and asubsequent image of a current image. In some cases, the inter predictionunit 120 may predict a PU based on information of a partially encodedregion in the current picture. The inter prediction unit 120 may includea reference image interpolation unit, a motion information generationunit, and a motion compensation unit.

The reference image interpolation unit may be supplied with referenceimage information from the memory 155 and generate pixel informationless than or equal to an integer pixel on a reference image. In the caseof luminance pixels, a DCT-based 8-tap interpolation filter with avariable filter coefficient may be used to generate pixel informationless than or equal to an integer pixel in a unit of a ¼ pixel. In thecase of chrominance pixels, a DCT-based 4-tap interpolation filter witha variable filter coefficient may be used to generate pixel informationless than or equal to an integer pixel in a unit of a ⅛ pixel.

The motion information generation unit may generate motion informationbased on the reference image interpolated by the reference imageinterpolation unit. Here, the motion information refers to a motionvector, a reference image index, a prediction direction, and the like.As a method for estimating a motion vector, various methods such as FBMA(Full Search-based Block Matching Algorithm), TSS (Three Step Search)and NTS (New Three-Step Search Algorithm) may be used. Further, themotion vector may have a motion vector value of ½ or ¼ pixel unit basedon the interpolated pixel. In the inter prediction, the currentprediction unit may be predicted by differently generating the motioninformation. As the motion information generation method, variousmethods such as a merge method using a motion vector of a neighboringblock and a motion estimation method (e.g., AMVP (Adaptive Motion VectorPrediction)) may be used.

For example, FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating amotion estimation method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The motion estimation is to determine a motion vector of acurrent block, a reference image index, and an inter predictiondirection according to the determination, when a reference block that isthe same as or similar to a prediction block in a reference image thathas already been encoded and decoded is determined.

When the AMVP method is used, the encoding apparatus may generate apredicted motion vector (MVP: Motion Vector Prediction) by predicting amotion vector estimated in the current block, and encode a differencevalue (MVD: Motion Vector Difference) between the motion vector and thegenerated predicted motion vector.

A method of using a motion vector of a neighboring block is to applymotion information of a neighboring block neighboring the current blockto the current block. In this case, the neighboring block may include aspatial neighboring block adjacent to the current block and a temporalneighboring block which exists at the same position as the current blockand is included in the reference image. The encoding apparatus maydetermine motion information of a current block by applying motioninformation of neighboring blocks (spatial neighboring blocks: A to E,temporal neighboring block: Col) of the current block shown in FIG. 4 tothe current block. Herein, Col denotes a block which has the same orsimilar position as the current block and exists in the reference image.

The intra prediction unit 125 may generate a prediction unit based onthe reference pixel information around the current block which is pixelinformation in the current image. In the case where the neighboringblock of the current prediction unit is the block in which the interprediction is performed, and the reference pixel is the reconstructedpixel by performing the inter prediction, the reference pixel includedin the block in which the inter prediction is performed may be replacedwith the reference pixel information of the block in which the intraprediction is performed. That is, when the reference pixel is notavailable, the unavailable reference pixel information may be replacedwith at least one of the available reference pixels.

In the intra prediction, the prediction mode may have a directionalprediction mode in which the reference pixel information is usedaccording to the prediction direction, and a non-directional mode inwhich the direction information is not used in performing theprediction. The mode for predicting the luminance information may bedifferent from the mode for predicting the chrominance information. Theintra prediction mode information used for predicting the luminanceinformation or predicted luminance signal information may be used topredict the chrominance information.

In the intra prediction method, a predicted block may be generated byapplying an adaptive intra smoothing (AIS) filter to the referencepixels according to the prediction mode. Different types of AIS filtersmay be applied to the reference pixels. In the intra prediction method,the intra prediction mode of a current PU may be predicted from an intraprediction mode of a PU neighboring to the current PU. In predicting theprediction mode of the current PU using mode information predicted froma neighboring PU, when the current PU and the neighboring PU have thesame intra prediction mode, information indicating that the current PUand the neighboring PU have the same prediction mode may be transmittedusing predetermined flag information. When the current PU and theneighboring PU have different prediction modes, information on theprediction mode of the current block may be encoded by entropy encoding.

In addition, a residual block including residual information that is adifference value between a prediction unit that has been predicted basedon the prediction unit generated by the prediction units (120, 125) andthe original block of the prediction unit may be generated. Thegenerated residual block may be input to the transform unit 130.

The transform unit 130 may transform the residual block including theresidual data using a transform method such as DCT, DST, Karhunen LoeveTransform (KLT), or the like. In this case, the transform method may bedetermined based on the intra prediction mode of the prediction unitused to generate the residual block. For example, DCT may be used forthe horizontal direction, and DST may be used for the verticaldirection, depending on the intra prediction mode.

The quantization unit 135 may quantize the values transformed into thefrequency domain by the transform unit 130. The quantization coefficientmay vary depending on the block or the importance of the image. Thevalues calculated by the quantization unit 135 may be provided to theinverse quantization unit 140 and the reordering unit 160.

The transform unit 130 and/or the quantization unit 135 may beselectively included in the image encoding apparatus 100. That is, theimage encoding apparatus 100 may perform at least one of transform orquantization on the residual data of the residual block, or may encodethe residual block by skipping both the transform and the quantization.A block entering the input of the entropy encoding unit 165 is generallyreferred to as a transform block even though either the transform or thequantization is not performed in the image encoding apparatus 100 orboth the transform and the quantization are not performed.

The reordering unit 160 may reorder the coefficient values with respectto the quantized residual values.

The reordering unit 160 may change coefficients of a two-dimensional(2D) block into coefficients of a one-dimensional (1D) vector throughcoefficient scanning method. For example, the reordering unit 160 mayscan a DC coefficient to a coefficient in the high-frequency regionusing a predetermined scan type, and change it into a one-dimensionalvector form.

The entropy encoding unit 165 may perform entropy encoding on the basisof the values obtained by the rearrangement unit 160. Various encodingmethods, such as exponential Golomb coding, context-adaptive variablelength coding (CAVLC), or context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding(CABAC), may be used for entropy encoding.

The entropy encoding unit 165 may encode various information such asresidual coefficient information, block type information, predictionmode information, division unit information, prediction unitinformation, transmission unit information, motion vector information,reference image information, interpolation information of a block,filtering information, and the like, from the reordering unit 160 andthe prediction units 120 and 125. In the entropy encoding unit 165, thecoefficients of the transform block may be encoded based on a flagindicating whether a value of the coefficient is a zero and signaled inunit of a sub-block in the transform block, a flag indicating whetherthe absolute value of the coefficient is greater than 1 or not, whetherthe absolute value of the coefficient is greater than 2. The entropyencoding unit 165 encodes the sign of the coefficient only for non-zerocoefficients. A coefficient having an absolute value of the coefficientlarger than 2 is encoded by subtracting 2 from the absolute value.

The entropy encoding unit 165 may entropy-encode the coefficient valueof the encoding unit input from the reordering unit 160.

The inverse quantization unit 140 and the inverse transform unit 145dequantize the values which are quantized by the quantization unit 135and inverse-transform the values which are transformed by the transformunit 130. A reconstructed block may be generated by adding the residualvalues to the predicted PU. The residual values may be generated by theinverse quantization unit 140 and the inverse transform unit 145. Thepredicted PU may be predicted by the motion vector prediction unit, themotion compensation unit, and the intra prediction unit of theprediction units 120 and 125.

The filter unit 150 may include at least one of a deblocking filter, anoffset unit, and an adaptive loop filter (ALF).

The deblocking filter may remove block distortion generated byboundaries between blocks in a reconstructed image. Whether to apply thedeblocking filter to a current block may be determined on the basis ofpixels included in several rows or columns of the block. When thedeblocking filter is applied to a block, a strong filter or a weakfilter may be applied depending on a required deblocking filteringstrength. When horizontal filtering and vertical filtering are performedin applying the deblocking filter, the horizontal filtering and verticalfiltering may be performed in parallel.

The offset unit may apply the offset with respect to the original imageto the deblocking filtered image, in units of pixels. A region to whichthe offset may be applied may be determined after partitioning pixels ofa image into a predetermined number of regions. The offset may beapplied to the determined region in consideration of edge information oneach pixel or the method of applying the offset to the determinedregion.

The ALF may perform filtering based on a comparison result of thefiltered reconstructed image and the original image. Pixels included inan image may be partitioned into predetermined groups, a filter to beapplied to each group may be determined, and differential filtering maybe performed for each group. Information on whether to apply the ALF maybe transferred by each coding unit (CU) and a shape and filtercoefficients of an ALF to be applied to each block may vary. Further, anALF with the same form (fixed form) may be applied to a block regardlessof characteristics of the block.

The memory 155 may store a reconstructed block or image output from thefilter unit 150, and the stored reconstructed block or image may besupplied to the prediction units 120 and 125 when performing interprediction.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image decoding apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the image decoding apparatus 200 may include anentropy decoding unit 210, a rearrangement unit 215, a dequantizationunit 220, an inverse transform unit 225, prediction units 230 and 235, afilter unit 240, and a memory 245.

When an image bitstream is input in the image encoding apparatus, theinput bitstream may be decoded in a procedure opposite to that of theimage encoding apparatus.

The entropy decoding unit 210 may perform entropy decoding in aprocedure opposite to that in which entropy encoding is performed in theentropy encoding unit of the image encoding apparatus. For example,various methods such as Exponential Golomb, Context-Adaptive VariableLength Coding (CAVLC), and Context-Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding(CABAC) may be applied in accordance with the method performed by theimage encoding apparatus. In the entropy decoding unit 210, thecoefficients of the transform block may be decoded based on a flagindicating whether a value of the coefficient is a zero or not andsignaled in unit of a sub-block in the transform block, a flagindicating whether the absolute value of the coefficient is greater than1, whether the absolute value of the coefficient is greater than 2.Then, the entropy decoding unit 210 decodes the sign of the coefficientwith respect to the non-zero coefficient. A coefficient whose absolutevalue is larger than 2 may be decoded by subtracting 2.

The entropy decoding unit 210 may decode information associated withintra prediction and inter prediction performed by the encodingapparatus.

The rearrangement unit 215 may perform rearrangement on the bitstreamentropy-decoded by the entropy decoding unit 210. The rearrangement unit215 may reconstruct and rearrange coefficients of a 1D vector intocoefficients of a 2D block. The rearrangement unit 215 may be providedwith information on coefficient scanning performed by the encodingapparatus and may perform rearrangement using a method of inverselyscanning the coefficients, on the basis of scanning order performed bythe encoding apparatus.

The dequantization unit 220 may perform dequantization on the basis of aquantization parameter and the rearranged coefficients of the block.

The inverse transform unit 225 may perform inverse-transform of thedequantized transform coefficients based on a predetermined transformtype. At this time, the transform type may be determined based on atleast one of a prediction mode (inter/intra prediction), a size/shape ofa block, an intra prediction mode.

The prediction units 230 and 235 may generate a prediction block on thebasis of information for generating prediction block and information ona previously-decoded block or image provided. The information forgenerating prediction block may be provided from the entropy decodingunit 210. The information on a previously-decoded block or image may beprovided from the memory 245.

The prediction units 230 and 235 may include a PU determination unit, aninter prediction unit and an intra prediction unit. The PU determinationunit may receive a variety of information, such as PU information, intraprediction mode-related information of the intra prediction method andmotion prediction-related information of an inter prediction method,etc. from the entropy decoding unit 210, may determine a PU for acurrent CU. The PU determination unit may determine which of the interprediction and the intra prediction is performed on the PU. An interprediction unit 230 may perform inter prediction on a current PU on thebasis of information on at least one image among a previous image and asubsequent image of a current image including the current PU. An interprediction unit 230 may use information necessary for inter predictionfor the current PU provided from the encoding apparatus. The interprediction may be performed on the basis of the information of thepre-reconstructed partial region in the current image including thecurrent PU.

In order to perform inter prediction, it may be determined, in an unitof a CU, whether a motion information generation method for a PUincluded in the CU is a merge mode or a motion estimation method.

An intra prediction unit 235 may generate a prediction block on thebasis of pixel information in a current image. When a PU is a PU forwhich intra prediction is performed, intra prediction may be performedbased on intra prediction mode information on the PU provided from theencoding apparatus. The intra prediction unit 235 may include an AIS(Adaptive Intra Smoothing) filter, a reference pixel interpolation unit,and a DC filter. The AIS filter performs filtering on reference pixelsof a current block. The AIS filter may decide whether to apply thefilter or not, depending on a prediction mode for the current PU. AISfiltering may be performed on the reference pixels of the current blockusing the prediction mode for the PU and information on the AIS filterprovided from the encoding apparatus. When the prediction mode for thecurrent block is a mode not performing AIS filtering, the AIS filter maynot be applied.

When the prediction mode for the PU indicates a prediction mode ofperforming intra prediction on the basis of pixel values obtained byinterpolating the reference pixels, the reference pixel interpolationunit may generate reference pixels in a unit of a fractional pixel lessthan an integer pixel (i.e. full pixel) by interpolating the referencepixels. When the prediction mode for the current PU indicates aprediction mode of generating a prediction block without interpolatingthe reference pixels, the reference pixels may not be interpolated. TheDC filter may generate a prediction block through filtering when theprediction mode for the current block is the DC mode.

The reconstructed block or image may be provided to the filter unit 240.The filter unit 240 includes a deblocking filter, an offset unit, and anALF.

The image encoding apparatus may provide information on whether thedeblocking filter is applied to a corresponding block or image, andinformation on which of a strong filter and a weak filter is appliedwhen the deblocking filter is used. The deblocking filter of the imagedecoding apparatus may be provided with information on the deblockingfilter from the image encoding apparatus and may perform deblockingfiltering on a corresponding block.

The offset unit may apply offset to the reconstructed picture on thebasis of information on an offset type and offset value applied to thepicture in the encoding process.

The ALF may be applied to a CU on the basis of information on whetherthe ALF is applied and ALF coefficient information, etc. provided fromthe encoding apparatus. The ALF information may be included and providedin a specific parameter set.

The memory 245 may store the reconstructed image or block for use as areference image or a reference block and may provide the reconstructedimage to an output unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a brightness change pattern between acurrent image including a current block and a reference image.

In case of inter prediction for the current block, the greater thebrightness change between the current image and the reference image, thegreater the brightness change between the current block and theprediction block to be selected in the reference image. Therefore, itmay be expected that the energy of the residual signal of the currentblock increases as the error due to the inter prediction of the currentblock increases. And, as the energy for the residual signal increases,it may be expected that the error due to the quantization alsoincreases. As a result, when there is a brightness change between thecurrent image and the reference image, the error for the residual blockwill increase as compared with the case where there is no brightnesschange.

Accordingly, in the present invention, a method of generating a weightprediction parameter by estimating a brightness change between imagesand performing an inter prediction using the weight prediction parameteris proposed. By using the weight prediction parameter in the interprediction, it is possible to prevent the energy of the residual blockfrom increasing sharply and to improve the prediction efficiency.

The weight prediction parameter may be generated in consideration of achange in the brightness of the current image and the reference imagesuch as a fade-in or a fade-out. However, when the weight predictionparameter is determined by considering only the above factors, it isdifficult to cope with the case where the brightness of the currentimage and the reference image are changed by a plurality of lightsources or the brightness of only the local region in the current imagechanges. Accordingly, in the present invention, a method of estimating aweight prediction parameter is also proposed in consideration of thecase where the brightness varies by a plurality of light sources or thecase where the brightness of only the local region changes.

Hereinafter, inter prediction using a weight prediction parameter willbe described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of estimating a weightprediction parameter in the image encoding apparatus.

The weight prediction parameter may be generated based on the brightnesschange between the current image and the reference image. Forconvenience of explanation, in the following embodiments, a weightprediction parameter generated based on a brightness change between acurrent image and a reference image is referred to as a ‘first weightprediction parameter’, and a weight prediction parameter generated basedon a brightness change between a part of a current image and a part of areference image is referred to as a ‘second weight predictionparameter’. The languages ‘first’ and ‘second’ of a weight predictionparameter are merely imposed for convenience of description, and it isnot limited that the first weight prediction parameter and the secondweight prediction parameter should have different properties.

The encoding apparatus may estimate the first weight predictionparameter for the reference image using the current image and thereference image before encoding the image (S601). For example, theencoding apparatus may assign a first weight prediction parameter toeach of a plurality of reference images included in the reference imagelist.

The first weight prediction parameter is a value generated based on abrightness variation between the reference image and the current image.

When the first weight prediction parameter is used in the interprediction of the current block, the prediction block may be generatedbased on the reference block indicated by the motion vector and thefirst weight parameter for the reference image including the referenceblock.

The first weight prediction parameter may include at least one of amultiplication parameter multiplied by the prediction pixel or anaddition parameter added to the prediction pixel. At this time, themultiplication parameter and the addition parameter may be derived basedon a regression analysis. For example, the following equation (1) showsan example of a regression analysis model.e ²=Σ[Y−(wX+o)]²  [equation 1]

In Equation (1), Y represents data of the current image, X representsdata of the reference image, w represents the slope of the regressionline, o represents the intercept value of the regression line, and erepresents the regression line prediction error. In this case, Y is apixel value of the current image, and the whole or a part of the currentimage may be a range. X may be a pixel value of the reference image, anda whole or a part of the reference image may be a range.

The first weight prediction parameter may be obtained by partiallydifferentiating Equation 1 into w and o, respectively. For example, whenthe equation (1) is partially differentiated into w and o, w and o,which minimize the square of the error (e), may be set as multiplicationparameters and addition parameters, respectively.

The first weight prediction parameter value calculated based on Equation(1) may have a real value. The first weight prediction parameter may beset to a real value calculated based on Equation (1) or an integer valueobtained by integerizing a real value calculated based on Equation (1).In one example, the first weight prediction parameter may be derived asan integer value that is derived by multiplying a real number valuecalculated based on Equation (1) by 2N. The variable N used forintegerizing the first weight prediction parameter may be encoded on ablock-by-block, region-by-region basis, or upper header.

When the first weight parameter is determined, the encoding apparatusmay calculate the cost according to whether the first weight parameteris applied (S602). For example, the encoding apparatus may calculate asum of absolute difference (SAD) between the current image and thereference image to which the first weight parameter is applied as awhole and a SAD between the reference image to which the first weightparameter is not applied and the current image. If the SAD of thereference image to which the first weight parameter is applied issmaller than the SAD of the reference image to which the first weightparameter is not applied, it may be determined that there is abrightness change between the current image and the reference image.Conversely, if the SAD of the reference image to which the first weightparameter is applied is larger than the SAD of the reference image towhich the first weight parameter is not applied, it may be determinedthat there is no brightness change (S603).

In addition to the above-described SAD, cost calculation may beperformed using a sum of squared difference (SSD) or a sum of absolutetransformed difference (SATD).

If it is determined that there is no brightness change between thecurrent image and the reference image (S603), it may be determined thatthe weight prediction parameter is not used in the inter prediction forthe current image. Accordingly, the inter prediction may be used for thecurrent block included in the current image without using the weightparameter.

On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a brightness changebetween the current image and the reference image (S603), a process ofderiving the second weight parameter for each predetermined region ofthe current image may be performed. For example, the second weightparameter for a predetermined region in the current image may beobtained by comparing pixel values of blocks included in thepredetermined region of the current image with pixel values of blocksincluded in the region of the reference image. Herein, the region of thereference image corresponds to the same position as the predeterminedregion in the current image.

In order to calculate the second weight prediction parameter for apredetermined region in the current image, the current image and thereference image may be divided into a plurality of regions (S604). Thecurrent image and the reference image may be divided into a plurality ofblocks having the same size. The current image and the reference imagemay be divided in the same manner, so that the number of blocks in thecurrent image and the reference image and the position of the block maybe set to be the same.

Then, the encoding apparatus may determine, based on the pixel values ofeach block in the current image and the reference image, whether atleast one region in which a local brightness change occurs in thecurrent image is included in the current image (S605).

In step S605, the at least one region may be composed of a set of blockshaving the same or similar pixel value ratios. For example, if theaverage pixel value of the first block divided in the current image is100 and the average pixel value of the first block divided in thereference image is 80, then a brightness difference between the firstblock in the current image and the first block in the reference image is1.25 times. The encoding apparatus may group a block having a brightnessdifference of 1.25 times with a reference block or a block having abrightness difference similar to 1.25 times with the first block. Assuch, by grouping blocks having the same or similar brightnessdifference, regions in which a local brightness change exists may beidentified.

That is, the encoding apparatus may compare the pixel value of the blockincluded in the current image with the pixel value included in thereference image, and group blocks having the same or similar pixel valueratios. The grouped blocks may be treated as a single region.

The encoding apparatus may generate a second weight prediction parameterfor at least one region included in the current image (S606). If thereare a plurality of regions in the current image, a plurality of secondweight prediction parameters may be generated. Each of regions may begenerated as a set of blocks having similar pixel value ratios.

The second weight prediction parameter for each region may be obtainedusing Equation (1). In this case, Y may be data of a predeterminedregion in the current image for which a second weight predictionparameter is to be estimated, and X may be data of the region in thereference image. Herein, the region in the reference image may be thesame position region as the predetermined region in the current image.For example, Y may be a pixel value within a predetermined region, andall or some of the regions may be a range, and X may be a pixel valuewithin the same position region, and all or some of the regions may be arange. The second weight prediction parameter value calculated based onEquation (1) may have a real value. The second weight predictionparameter may be set to a real value calculated based on Equation (1) orto a value obtained by integerizing a real value calculated based onEquation (1). In one example, the second weight prediction parameter maybe derived as an integer value that is derived by multiplying a realnumber value calculated based on Equation (1) by 2N. The variable N usedfor integerizing the second weight prediction parameter may be encodedon a block-by-block, region-by-region, or upper header. It is alsopossible to have the same value as N used for integerizing the firstweight prediction parameter and to use a different N.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of performing RateDistortion Optimization (RDO) on a prediction block using a weightparameter.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the brightness change between the current imageand the reference image exists, the encoding apparatus may obtain thefirst weight prediction parameter, and when there is a region in whichthe local brightness change occurs in the current image, the encodingapparatus may obtain the second weight prediction parameter (S701). Thatis, the encoding apparatus may obtain a weight prediction parametercandidate that may be applied to the current block, such as a firstweight prediction parameter or a second weight prediction parameter,depending on whether there is a brightness change between the currentimage and the reference image or a local brightness change.

If there is a brightness change between the current block and thereference image, the weight prediction parameter candidate for thecurrent block may include the first weight prediction parameter. Inaddition, when there is a region in which a local brightness change ispresent in the current image, the weight prediction parameter candidatefor the current block may further include a second weight predictionparameter. If there are a plurality of second weight predictionparameters for the current image, the weight prediction parametercandidate may include a plurality of second weight predictionparameters.

The encoding apparatus may apply the weighting parameters set as theweighting prediction parameter candidate to the current block andcalculate the respective costs (S702). Then, the encoding apparatus maydetermine an optimal weight prediction parameter for the current blockbased on the calculation result (S703).

Determining the weight prediction parameter for the current blockcorresponds to selecting one of the plurality of weight predictionparameter candidate that exhibits the best inter prediction performancefor the current block. For example, if a first weight predictionparameter is derived for a reference image and a second weightprediction parameter is derived for a predetermined region in thecurrent image, the optimal weight prediction parameter for the currentblock among the first weight prediction parameter and the second weightprediction parameter may be selected.

For this purpose, the encoding apparatus may select an optimal weightprediction parameter by comparing the results of the inter prediction ofeach of the weight prediction parameter candidates. For example, theencoding apparatus may determine the optimal weight prediction parameterof the current block according to the inter prediction performanceresults of the first weight prediction parameter and the plurality ofsecond weight prediction parameters for the current block.

It is also possible to determine whether to perform the inter predictionusing the weight prediction parameter, by comparing the result ofperforming the inter prediction using the weight prediction parametercandidate with the result of performing the inter prediction withoutusing the weight prediction parameter candidate.

In the above-described example, it is described that the weightprediction parameter includes the first weight prediction parameter and,in some cases, may further include the second weight predictionparameter. Contrary to the example described above, the first weightprediction parameter may be used as the weight prediction parametercandidate only when the second weight prediction parameter is notavailable or when the number of the second weight prediction parametersis equal to or less than the predetermined number.

The weight prediction parameter candidate may have a fixed number, ormay have a variable number. When the number of weight predictionparameter candidates is variable, the encoding apparatus may encodeinformation indicating the number of usable weight prediction parametercandidates for the current block through a bitstream (e.g., an upperheader). At this time, the number of the weight prediction parametercandidates may be variably set according to the size or depth of thecurrent block. Accordingly, the encoding apparatus may encodeinformation on the number of weight prediction parameter candidates thatmay be used according to the size or depth information of the blockthrough a bitstream (e.g., an upper header).

As another example, the encoding apparatus and the decoding apparatusmay define to use the same number of weight prediction parametercandidates by predetermined conditions. For example, the number ofweight prediction parameter candidates may be adaptively determinedaccording to the size, shape, or intra prediction mode of the currentblock. It is assumed that the number of usable weight predictionparameters is 5. Five weight prediction parameter candidates may be usedwhen the size of the current block is 8×8 or less. Four weightprediction parameter candidates may be used when the size of the currentblock is 16×16. Three weight prediction parameter candidates may be usedwhen the size of the current block is 32×32. Two weight predictionparameters may be used when the size of the current block is 64×64.

If the second weight prediction parameter is not obtained for thecurrent image, the current block may be encoded using the first weightprediction parameter. Also, if there is no brightness change between thecurrent image and the reference image, the current block may be encodedwithout using the weight prediction parameter, or may be encoded usingthe initial weight prediction parameter.

The initial weight prediction parameter means that the multiplicationparameter and the addition parameter are set to initial values. Here,the initial values of the multiplication parameter and the additionparameter may be 1 and 0, respectively. As another example, the initialvalue of the multiplication parameter may be set to 1<<N, and theinitial value of the addition parameter may be set to zero.

In the example described above, when there is no brightness changebetween the current image and the reference image, the initial weightprediction parameter is illustrated as being used. It is also possibleto encode the current block using the initial weight predictionparameter even when there is a brightness change between the currentimage and the reference image. In this case, in order to select theinitial weight prediction parameter, the initial weight predictionparameter may be added as the weight prediction parameter candidate. Byadding the initial weight prediction parameter as a weight predictionparameter candidate, a new index may be assigned to the initial weightprediction parameter. In this case, the index assigned to the initialweight prediction parameter may be encoded through a bitstream or mayhave a predetermined value.

Also, by performing RDO using the weight prediction parameter candidatesincluding the first weight prediction parameter, the second weightprediction parameter, and the initial weight prediction parameter, it ispossible to specify a weight prediction parameter suitable for thecurrent block among the first weight prediction parameter, the secondweight prediction parameter, and the initial weight predictionparameter.

Next, a method of encoding information related to the weight predictionparameter will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of encoding informationrelated to a weight prediction parameter for a current block.

Referring to FIG. 8, the encoding apparatus may encode information onwhether a brightness change exists for each reference image of thecurrent image (S801). Whether to use the weight prediction parameter ornot depends on whether there is a brightness change, so the informationmay be used for indicating whether or not a weight prediction parameterexists in the bitstream. At this time, the information on whether thereis a brightness change may be a flag of 1 bit, but is not limitedthereto. In addition, information on whether a brightness change existsmay be encoded in a unit of a prediction block or may be encoded in ahigher header than a prediction block. In one example, the informationmay be encoded in a unit of sequence, picture, slice, or tile. Thedecoding apparatus may determine whether there is a brightness changebetween the current image and the reference image, based on theinformation to be decoded from the bitstream.

When there is no brightness change between the current image and thereference image, the encoding apparatus does not perform encoding ofinformation related to the weight prediction parameter for the currentblock.

On the other hand, if there is a brightness change between the currentimage and the reference image (S802), the encoding apparatus may encodethe first weight prediction parameter and information on whether thecurrent image include a region with at least one second weightprediction parameter (S803, S804). When the current image includes theregion to which the second weight prediction parameter is assigned,information on the second weight prediction parameter is additionallyencoded. Therefore, the information may be used to indicate whether theadditional weight prediction parameter other than the first weightprediction parameter is present or not. Here, the information on whetherthe current image includes at least one region for deriving the secondweight prediction parameter may be a flag of 1 bit, but is not limitedthereto. Further, information on whether or not there is a brightnesschange may be encoded through a higher header than a prediction block.In one example, the information may be encoded in a unit of sequence,picture, slice, or tile.

If it is determined that the current image includes at least one regionto which at least one second weight prediction parameter is assigned(S805), the encoding apparatus may encode the second weight predictionparameter for each of the M regions included in the current image(S806).

The information on the first weight prediction parameter and the secondweight prediction parameter may be encoded in a unit of a predictionblock or may be encoded in a higher header than a prediction block. Forexample, the information on the first weight prediction parameter andthe second weight prediction parameter may be encoded in a unit of asequence, picture, slice, or tile.

It is also possible to encode the first weight prediction parameter andthe second weight prediction parameter in different layers. For example,the first weight prediction parameter may be encoded on a video basis,and the second weight prediction parameter may be encoded on a slicebasis.

The first weight prediction parameter and the second weight predictionparameter may include a multiplication parameter and an additionparameter. At this time, the multiplication parameter may be dividedinto a prediction value determined based on the precision N for themultiplication parameter and a difference value between themultiplication parameter and the prediction value. For example, 1<<N maybe set as a prediction value of a multiplication parameter, and adifference between a multiplication parameter and a prediction value(1<<N) may be set as a difference value. The encoding apparatus mayencode the information about the multiplication parameter by encodingthe difference value. The precision N of the current block may beencoded in a unit of a block, slice, or picture, and may be transmittedto the decoding apparatus through the bitstream.

Alternatively, it is also possible to determine the precision N of thecurrent block in the same way in the encoding apparatus and the decodingapparatus. For example, the precision N of the current block may beadaptively determined according to the size, type, etc. of the currentblock.

If it is determined that the current image does not include the regionto which at least one second weight prediction parameter is assigned,encoding for the second weight prediction parameter may be omitted.

Information on the number of regions included in the current block(i.e., the number of second weight prediction parameters or the numberof regions capable of deriving the second weight prediction parameter)‘M’ may be encoded on a block-by-block or upper header. Alternatively,the encoding apparatus and the decoding apparatus may determine thenumber of regions included in the current block in the same manner,based on predetermined conditions.

If it is determined that the current image includes at least one regionfor deriving the second weight prediction parameter, the indexinformation indicating the weight prediction parameter of the currentblock among the plurality of weight prediction parameter candidates maybe encoded (S807). At this time, the index information may be encoded inunits of prediction blocks.

As another example, the encoding apparatus may encode information thatidentifies a region in which the weight parameter and the weightprediction parameter are derived. For example, the encoding apparatusmay encode the position or the size of the region in which the secondweight prediction parameter and the second weight parameter are derived.The encoding apparatus may encode the index assigned to the region.

Assuming that the index of the weight prediction parameter candidatesstarts from index 0, the index information will indicate any one of 0 to(the number of weight prediction parameter candidates−1). Here, thenumber of weight prediction parameter candidates may have a fixed valueor may have a variable value as in the example described above.

The plurality of weight prediction parameter candidate may include atleast one of a first weight prediction parameter, a second weightprediction parameter, or an initial weight prediction parameter.

Next, an example of decoding the information on the weight predictionparameter in the decoding apparatus will be described in detail.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of decoding a weight predictionparameter in the decoding apparatus. Referring to FIG. 9, the decodingapparatus may decode, from a bitstream, information indicating whetherthe brightness of each reference image has changed compared to a currentimage (S901).

Based on the information, the decoding apparatus may determine whetherthe first weight prediction parameter exists for the current block(S902). For example, if it is determined that there is no brightnesschange between the current image and the reference image based on theinformation, the decoding apparatus may not decode information relatedto the weight prediction parameter.

On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a brightness changebetween the current image and the reference image (S902), the decodingapparatus may decode the first weight prediction parameter and theinformation indicating whether the current image includes at least oneregion capable of deriving the second weight prediction parameter (S903,S904).

If at least one region capable of deriving the second weight predictionparameter is included in the current image, the decoding apparatus maydecode the information related to the second weight prediction parameterfrom the bitstream (S905). Based on the information, the decodingapparatus may determine whether or not a second weight predictionparameter exists for the current block.

If there are a plurality of M regions capable of deriving the secondweight prediction parameter in the current image, the decoding apparatusmay decode information on the M second weight prediction parameters(S906).

At this time, information on the first weight prediction parameter andthe second weight prediction parameter may be decoded in units of aprediction block or decoded in a higher header than a prediction block.For example, the information on the first weight prediction parameterand the second weight prediction parameter may be decoded in a sequence,picture, slice, or tile unit.

The first weight prediction parameter and the second weight predictionparameter may be decoded in different layers. For example, the firstweight prediction parameter may be decoded on a video basis, while thesecond weight prediction parameter may be decoded on a slice basis.

The first weight prediction parameter and the second weight predictionparameter may include a multiplication parameter and an additionparameter. At this time, the decoding apparatus may decode theinformation indicating the difference value between the multiplicationparameter and the prediction value of the multiplication parameter,according to the precision N with respect to the multiplicationparameter. If the precision for the multiplication parameter is N,(1<<N) may be set as a prediction value of the multiplication parameter.

Thereafter, the decoding apparatus may decode the index informationspecifying the weight prediction parameter of the current block amongthe plurality of weight prediction parameter candidates (S907). When theweight prediction parameter for the current block is specified by theindex information, inter prediction of the current block may beperformed based on the specified weight prediction parameter.

Specifically, the decoding apparatus may obtain the first predictionpixel by performing inter prediction on the current block, and obtainthe second prediction pixel by applying the weight predictive parameterto the obtained first prediction pixel. In one example, the secondprediction pixel may be obtained by multiplying the first predictionpixel by the multiplication parameter and adding the addition parameter.

As another example, the decoding apparatus may decode the informationthat identifies the region from which the weight prediction parameterand the weight prediction parameter are derived. For example, thedecoding apparatus may decode the position or size of the region towhich the second weight prediction parameter and the second weightparameter are allocated. The decoding apparatus may decode an indexallocated to the region. In this case, the decoding apparatus mayadaptively select the weight prediction parameter according to whetheror not the current block is included in the region to which the secondweight prediction parameter is allocated. For example, when the currentblock is included in the region to which the second weight predictionparameter is not allocated, the decoding apparatus may select the weightprediction parameter for the current block using the first weightprediction parameter. On the other hand, when the current block isincluded in the region to which the second weight prediction parameteris allocated, the decoding apparatus performs inter prediction on thecurrent block using the second weight prediction parameter allocated tothe region including the current block.

In the embodiment described above, it is determined whether or not thefirst weight prediction parameter may be used as the weight predictionparameter candidate, based on the information indicating whether abrightness change exists between the current image and the referenceimage. It has been described that it is determined whether or not thesecond weight prediction parameter may be used as the weight predictionparameter candidate, depending on whether or not the current imageincludes a region capable of deriving the weight prediction parameter.That is, whether or not to add the second weight prediction parameter tothe weight prediction candidate is determined according to whether ornot the current image includes a region capable of deriving the weightprediction parameter.

In contrast to the example described above, when there is a change inbrightness between the current image and the reference image, theencoding apparatus determines the number of usable weight predictionparameter candidates as the number of available weight predictionparameter candidates, instead of the information indicating whether thecurrent image includes the second weight prediction parameter Or may beencoded.

In this case, the decoding apparatus may decode at least one or moreweight prediction parameter candidates based on the received numberinformation. For example, when the number of usable weight predictionparameters is N, the weight prediction parameter candidates may beconfigured using one first weight prediction parameter and (N−1) secondweight prediction parameters.

In the embodiment described above, the weight prediction parameterincludes the first weight prediction parameter which is generated by abrightness difference between a current image and a reference image andthe second weight prediction parameter generated by a brightnessdifference between a partial region in the current image and a partialregion in the reference image. However, the first weight predictionparameter and the second weight prediction parameter described above areonly illustrative of an embodiment in which the weight predictionparameter is generated, and the present invention is not limitedthereto.

Next, a method of performing inter prediction using a weight predictionparameter set will be described in detail.

FIG. 6 FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a method of using a weightprediction parameter in an encoding apparatus.

The encoding apparatus may generate a weight prediction parameter setfor the current block based on the weight prediction parameters of theblocks encoded prior to the current block to be encoded (S6S1001). Here,the weight prediction parameter set may include weight predictionparameters of blocks in which inter prediction is used, among blocksencoded prior to the current block.

The encoding apparatus may generate the weight prediction parameter setbased on the weight prediction parameters used in the neighboring blocksadjacent to the current block among the blocks encoded before thecurrent block. Here, the neighboring block neighboring the current blockmay include a spatial neighboring block and a temporal neighboringblock. For example, the spatial neighboring block may include a leftupper block, an upper block, a right upper block, a left block, and alower left block adjacent to the current block, and a temporalneighboring block of the current block may include a collocated blockexisting at the same position as the current block. The collocated blockexists in the reference image.

The encoding apparatus may construct a weight prediction parameter setbased on the weight prediction parameters for the reconstructed blockencoded before the current block and the prediction block correspondingto the reconstructed block.

The weight prediction parameter may be set differently according to theinter prediction direction. For example, the forward weight predictionparameter may be used when a block to be encoded performs forwardprediction, and the backward weight prediction parameter may be usedwhen a block to be encoded performs backward prediction. In the case ofencoding a block by performing bi-directional prediction, both a forwardweight prediction parameter and a backward weight prediction parametermay be used. In this case, the forward direction indicates a referenceimage that is the past of the current image (i.e., a reference imagehaving a POC smaller than the POC of the current image), and the reversedirection indicates a reference image that is the future of the currentimage (i.e., a reference image having a POC greater than the POC of thecurrent image).

The encoding apparatus may construct a weight prediction parameter setof the current block by using at least one of the forward weightprediction parameter and the backward weight prediction parameter forthe neighboring block, based on the inter prediction direction of thecurrent block.

FIG. 7 FIG. 11 is a diagram showing weight prediction parameters ofneighboring blocks neighboring the current block.

In the example shown in FIG. 7 FIG. 11, A to E denote the spatialneighboring blocks of the current block, and Col denotes the temporalneighboring block of the current block. Please refer to the exampleshown in FIG. 4 with regard to the positions of A to E and Col.

Referring to FIG. 7 FIG. 11, neighboring blocks have at least one of aforward weight prediction parameter (i.e., a weight parameter assignedto list 0) and a backward weight prediction parameter (i.e., a weightparameter assigned to list 1).

The encoding apparatus may determine weight prediction parameters ofneighboring blocks to be included in the weight prediction parameterset, according to the prediction direction of the current block. Forexample, if the current block is encoded through forward prediction, aweight prediction parameter set may be constructed using forward weightprediction parameters of neighboring blocks, and if the current block isencoded through backward prediction, a weighted prediction parameter setmay be constructed using backward weight prediction parameters of theneighboring blocks. If the current block is encoded using bi-directionalprediction, a weight prediction parameter set may be constructed usingforward weight prediction parameter and backward weight parameter ofneighboring blocks.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 7 FIG. 11, if the currentblock is encoded in the forward prediction, the forward weightprediction parameters of the neighboring blocks, (65,1), (64,2), (66,2),(61,7), (59,2) may be included in the weight prediction parameter set.

Here, the weight prediction parameter may include at least one of amultiplication parameter multiplied by the prediction sample or anaddition parameter added to the prediction sample. In FIG. 7 FIG. 11,the weight prediction parameter is expressed in the form of (w, o).Here, w denotes a multiplication parameter, and o denotes an additionparameter.

The encoding apparatus may select an optimal weight prediction parameterfor the current block from the weight prediction parameters included inthe weight prediction parameter set (S6S1002). When the optimal weightprediction parameter for the current block is selected, the encodingapparatus may encode information (e.g., index information) specifyingthe selected weight prediction parameter.

When the optimal weight prediction parameter is selected, an interprediction for the current block may be performed based on the selectedweight prediction parameter (S6S1003). For example, the inter predictionof the current block may be performed by multiplying the predictionpixel obtained through the motion compensation by the multiplicationparameter, and then adding the addition parameter.

If a prediction block is generated as an inter prediction result for thecurrent block, the current block may be reconstructed based on thegenerated prediction block and the residual block after the inversequantization and inverse transform (S6S1004).

Assuming that a block to be encoded next to the current block is encodedbased on an inter prediction, the weight prediction parameter set of thenext block may be generated using the weight prediction parameter of thecurrent block. At this time, the weight prediction parameter of thecurrent block usable in the next block may be any one selected from theweight prediction parameter set of the current block.

As another example, the weight prediction parameter of the current blockusable for the next block may be estimated from the reconstruction blockand the prediction block of the current block. In this case, theencoding apparatus may perform the weighted prediction parameterestimation on the current block so as to configure the weight predictionparameter set for the next block of the current block (S6S1005).

The reconstruction block has a quantization error with respect to theoriginal block, but the brightness change characteristic in thereconstruction block has a pattern similar to that of the originalblock. Accordingly, in the decoding apparatus, the weight predictionparameter for the current block may be estimated using thereconstruction block and the prediction block for the current block inorder to estimate the weight prediction parameter in the same manner asthe encoding apparatus.

Specifically, if a reconstruction block is generated for the currentblock, the weight prediction parameter of the current block may beestimated for the next block, by using regression analysis based on thereconstruction block and the prediction block to which the weightprediction parameter is not applied. An example of regression analysisis as shown in Equation (1).

In Equation (1), Y represents data of the reconstruction block, Xrepresents data of the prediction block, w represents the slope of theregression line, o represents the intercept value of the regressionline, and e represents the error of the regression line prediction.Specifically, Y denotes the pixel value of the reconstruction block, andX denotes the pixel value of the prediction block.

The weight prediction parameter of the current block may be obtained bypartially differentiating Equation 1 into w and o, respectively. Forexample, w and o that minimize the square of the error e may be derivedas the multiplication parameter and the addition parameter,respectively, when the equation (1) is partially differentiated into wand o, respectively.

The weight prediction parameter calculated based on Equation (1) mayhave a real value. The weight prediction parameter of the current blockmay be set to a real value calculated based on Equation (1) or may beset to a value obtained by integerizing a real value calculated based onEquation (1). In one example, the weight prediction parameter may bederived as an integer value derived by multiplying a real number valuecalculated based on Equation (1) by 2N. The variable N used forintegerizing the weight prediction parameter may be encoded through thebitstream. Alternatively, the weight prediction parameter may beintegerized by using a predetermined N value of the same value in theencoding apparatus and the decoding apparatus.

In Equation (1), all the pixels in the reconstruction block are set tothe input range for X, and all the pixels in the prediction block areset to the input range for Y. As another example, instead of using thepixels of the entire block, only some of the pixels through sub-samplingmay be used to estimate the weight prediction parameter of the currentblock.

For example, FIG. 8 FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example inwhich only some pixels are used for weight prediction parameterestimation of the current block. Assuming that the reconstruction blockand the prediction block for the current block are sub-sampled by ½ inthe horizontal and vertical directions, one of the four samples (2×2)may be used as the input of X or Y. For example, in the example shown inFIG. 8 FIG. 12, only black pixels may be used for the regressionanalysis.

In the example shown in FIG. 8 FIG. 12, the sample located at the upperleft of the 2×2 samples is shown to be used for the regression analysis,but the upper right pixel, the lower left pixel, or the lower rightpixel among the 2×2 pixels is set to be used for the regressionanalysis. Alternatively, index information may be encoded through abitstream. The index information may indicate which one of theabove-mentioned positions is used for the regression analysis.

The encoding apparatus and the decoding apparatus may perform thesub-sampling according to the predefined value or may perform thesub-sampling according to the value derived under the predefinedcondition. Alternatively, the encoding apparatus may encode thesub-sampling unit M and encode the sub-sampling unit M through abitstream, thereby notifying the decoding apparatus that sub-samplinghas been performed by 1/M.

The weight prediction parameter estimated for the current block may beused to construct a weight prediction parameter set for the next block.

The weight prediction parameter set of the current block may include atleast one the weight prediction parameter. The maximum number of weightprediction parameters to be included in a weight prediction parameterset of the current block may be a fixed number or may be a variablenumber depending on the size or type of the current block or theinformation signaled through the bitstream. In one example, the maximumnumber P of maximum weight prediction parameters that the weightprediction parameter set may include may be encoded through a bitstream.

In FIG. 7 FIG. 11, the blocks used for constructing the weightprediction parameter set of the current block are limited to A to E andCol, but blocks at other positions may also be used for constructing theweight prediction parameter set of the current block.

For example, the encoding apparatus may generate a weight predictionparameter set of a current block using a block of a predeterminedposition. Alternatively, the encoding apparatus may generate a weightprediction parameter set of the current block using a block of anarbitrary position. The encoding apparatus may encode informationspecifying the position of the block or the block which is used forgenerating the weight prediction parameter set of the current blockthrough a bitstream. At this time, information specifying the positionof the block or the block may be encoded through the bitstream.

If the weight prediction parameter set includes a plurality of weightprediction parameters, the weight prediction parameters may be arrangedin a predetermined order. In one example, the weighted predictionparameters may be ordered in the order of the spatial neighbor block andthe temporal neighbor block. Accordingly, in FIG. 7 FIG. 11, afteradding the weight prediction parameters A to E to the weight predictionparameter set, the weight prediction parameter of Col may be added tothe weight prediction parameter set. As another example, the weightprediction parameters may be arranged in the order most similar to themotion information of the current block (e.g., motion vector).Alternatively, it is possible to assign higher priority to the weightprediction parameter derived neighboring reconstruction block and theprediction block based thereon and add the weight prediction parameterin the weight prediction parameter set. On the contrary, it is alsopossible to assign higher priority to the weight prediction parameter ofthe neighboring block and add the weight prediction parameter in theweight prediction parameter set.

The weight prediction parameter set may include an initial weightprediction parameter set. The initial weight prediction parameter meansthat the multiplication parameter and the addition parameter are set toinitial values. Here, the initial values of the multiplication parameterand the addition parameter may be 1 and 0, respectively. As anotherexample, the initial value of the multiplication parameter may be set to1<<N, and the initial value of the addition parameter may be set tozero.

The information on the initial weight prediction parameter may beencoded through a bitstream and transmitted to a decoding apparatus.Alternatively, the initial weight prediction parameter may be set tohave a fixed index in the weight prediction parameter set. In oneexample, the initial weight prediction parameter may be set to haveindex 0 in the weight prediction parameter set.

The weight prediction parameter set may include a weight predictionparameter derived on an image basis. Here, the weight predictionparameter set derived in units of images may be generated based on thebrightness change between the current image and the reference image ofthe current image. For example, the weight prediction parameter derivedin an image unit may be derived by Equation (1). At this time, all thepixels in the current image may be set to the input range for X, and allthe pixels in the reference image may be set to the input range for Y.

The information on the weight prediction parameter of the image unit maybe encoded through the bitstream and transmitted to the decodingapparatus. Here, the information on the weight prediction parameter mayinclude a weight prediction parameter value or a residual value for theweight prediction parameter. For example, in a decoding apparatus, aweight prediction parameter of an image unit may be obtained by adding aprediction value and a residual value of a weight prediction parameter.At this time, the prediction value of the weight prediction parameter isdetermined by the precision N for the current block, and the residualvalue may be determined based on the information to be decoded from thebitstream.

At this time, the precision N of the current block may be encodedthrough the bitstream and transmitted to the decoding apparatus throughthe bitstream.

Alternatively, it is also possible to determine the precision N of thecurrent block in the same way in the encoding apparatus and the decodingapparatus. For example, the precision N of the current block may beadaptively determined according to the size, shape, etc. of the currentblock.

When the weight prediction parameter of the image unit is included inthe weight prediction parameter set, the index allocated to the weightprediction parameter of the image unit may be encoded through thebitstream or may have a predetermined value. For example, assuming thatthe weight prediction parameter set is composed of up to six weightprediction parameters, the initial weight prediction parameter may beset to have index 0, and the weight prediction parameter of the imageunit may be set to have index 1. Index 2 to index 5 may be used for theweight prediction parameter derived from the neighboring block.

The initial weight prediction parameter or the weight predictionparameter of the image unit may be added to the weight predictionparameter set when the number of weight prediction parameters derivedfrom the neighboring block is smaller than the maximum number that canbe included in the weight prediction parameter set. For example, thenumber of weight prediction parameters that can be used is four, but ifthe four weight prediction parameters may not be derived from theneighboring block, it is possible to include at least one of the initialweight prediction parameter or the weight prediction parameter of theimage unit in the weight prediction parameter set. The four weightprediction parameters may not be derived from the neighboring block incase that the neighboring block neighboring the current block is encodedby the intra prediction or the weight prediction parameter of theneighboring block is not available because the current block is at theimage boundary.

The weight prediction parameter set may include a combined weightprediction parameter generated by combining two or more weightprediction parameters. For example, when the number of weight predictionparameters that may be derived from neighboring blocks is smaller thanthe number of usable weight prediction parameters, the combined weightprediction parameter generated by combining two or more weightprediction parameters may be added to the weight prediction parameterset.

Assuming that the weight prediction parameter is composed of (w, o), thecombined weight prediction parameter may be generated considering theprediction mode of neighboring blocks or the prediction direction ofneighboring blocks.

For example, FIG. 9 FIG. 13 shows an example in which a combined weightprediction parameter is generated.

In FIG. 9 FIG. 13, A to D denote neighboring blocks neighboring thecurrent block, and List 0 and 1 denote the weight prediction parameterof a neighboring block when a forward reference image and a backwardreference image are used, respectively.

In FIG. 9 FIG. 13, A has only forward weight prediction parameter byperforming forward prediction, and D has only backward weight predictionparameter by performing backward prediction. C has both a forward weightprediction parameter and a backward weight prediction parameter as itperforms bi-directional prediction. B is shown as having neither forwardweight prediction parameter nor backward weight prediction parameter. Inone example, if B is encoded by intra prediction, then B will not have aweight prediction parameter.

Accordingly, in the example shown in FIG. 9 FIG. 13, the forward weightprediction parameter (i.e., the weight prediction parameter for List 0)may be obtained only from the A and C blocks and the backward weightprediction parameter (i.e., the weight prediction parameter for List 1)may be obtained only from the C and D blocks.

Assuming that the weight prediction parameter set of the current blockcan include four forward weight prediction parameters, the remaining twoforward weight prediction parameters, excluding the two forward weightprediction parameters derived from the neighboring block, may begenerated by combining two or more forward weight prediction parameters.Alternatively, when it is assumed that the weight prediction parameterset of the current block can include four backward weight predictionparameters, the remaining two backward weight prediction parameters,excluding the two backward weight parameters derived from theneighboring block, may be generated by combining two or more backwardweight prediction parameters. In FIG. 9 FIG. 13, the forward weightprediction parameters of B and D are generated by combining the forwardweight prediction parameters of A and C. The backward weight predictionparameters of A and B are generated by combining the backward weightprediction parameters of C and D.

When the combined weight prediction parameter is added to the weightprediction parameter set, the index given to the combined weightprediction parameter may be determined by a predetermined priority.

If the weight prediction parameter set are not generated despite thecombination of the weight prediction parameters in the neighboringblocks, all of the remaining weight prediction parameters may be set asthe initial weight prediction parameters.

FIG. 10 FIG. 14 shows an example of decoding a weight predictionparameter in the decoding apparatus. Referring to FIG. 10 FIG. 14, thedecoding apparatus may generate a weight prediction parameter set basedon weight prediction parameters of neighboring blocks neighboring thecurrent block among blocks decoded prior to the current block(S10S1401). The generation of the weight prediction parameter set hasbeen described in detail in the operation of the encoding apparatus, anda detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the weight prediction parameter set for the current block isgenerated, the decoding apparatus may determine the weight predictionparameter for the current block based on index information (S10S1402).The index information may specify the weight prediction parameter forthe current block. The specified weight prediction parameter may be anyone of the weight prediction parameters included in the weightprediction parameter set. Here, the index information may be decodedfrom the bitstream.

When the weight prediction parameter for the current block isdetermined, the inter prediction for the current block may be performedusing the determined weight prediction parameter (S10S1403). As anexample, inter prediction of a current block may be performed bymultiplying a prediction sample obtained through motion compensation bya multiplication parameter and adding addition parameters.

When a prediction block is generated as an inter prediction result forthe current block, the current block may be reconstructed based on thegenerated prediction block and the residual block (S10S1404).

When the reconstruction of the current block is completed, the weightprediction parameter for the current block may be estimated so that theblock to be decoded next to the current block can use (S10S1405).Estimation of the weight prediction parameter set of the current blockhas been described in detail in the operation of the encoding apparatus,and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Although the exemplary methods of this disclosure are represented by aseries of acts for clarity of explanation, they are not intended tolimit the order in which the steps are performed, and if necessary, eachstep may be performed simultaneously or in a different order. In orderto implement the method according to the present disclosure, theillustrative steps may additionally include other steps, include theremaining steps except for some steps, or may include additional stepsother than some steps.

The various embodiments of the disclosure are not intended to beall-inclusive and are intended to illustrate representative aspects ofthe disclosure, and the features described in the various embodimentsmay be applied independently or in a combination of two or more.

In addition, various embodiments of the present disclosure may beimplemented by hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.In the case of hardware implementation, the hardware may be implementedby one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digitalsignal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs),programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), general processor, a controller, a micro-controller, amicro-processor, and the like.

The scope of the present disclosure includes a software ormachine-executable instructions (e.g., operating system, applications,firmware, program, etc.) which makes operations according to the methodsof the various embodiments be performed on the apparatus or computer anda non-transitory computer-readable medium, in which such software orinstructions are stored, executable on the apparatus or computer.

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY

The present invention may be used for encoding/decoding an image.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for decoding a video signal with adecoding apparatus, comprising: determining, with the decodingapparatus, a weight prediction parameter of a current block using apredetermined reference region, the reference region being a regionreconstructed before the current block and including a neighboringregion spatially adjacent to the current block; and predicting, with thedecoding apparatus, the current block based on the weight predictionparameter, wherein the neighboring region is determined based oninformation which is signaled to specify a position of a region used todetermine the weight prediction parameter, and wherein the neighboringregion includes a bottom-left neighboring region or a right-topneighboring region.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the weightprediction parameter of the current block is determined based on atleast one of a size or a shape of the current block.
 3. A method forencoding a video signal with an encoding apparatus, comprising:determining, with the encoding apparatus, a weight prediction parameterof a current block using a predetermined reference region, the referenceregion being a region encoded before the current block and including aneighboring region spatially adjacent to the current block; andpredicting, with the encoding apparatus, the current block based on theweight prediction parameter, wherein information for specifying aposition of the neighboring region used to determine the weightprediction parameter is encoded by the encoding apparatus, and whereinthe neighboring region includes a bottom-left neighboring region or aright-top neighboring region.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein theweight prediction parameter of the current block is determined based onat least one of a size or a shape of the current block.
 5. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium for storing data associated witha video signal, comprising: a data stream stored in the non-transitorycomputer-readable medium, the data stream comprising informationspecifying a position of a neighboring region which is reconstructedbefore a current block and is spatially adjacent to the current block,wherein the neighboring region is used to determine a weight predictionparameter of the current block, wherein the neighboring region includesa bottom-left neighboring region or a right-top neighboring region, andwherein the current block is predicted based on the weight predictionparameter.
 6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5,wherein the weight prediction parameter of the current block isdetermined based on at least one of a size or a shape of the currentblock.